Insecure Writers Support Group: Discipline down the drain!

It's the first wednesday in September... time for another Insecure Writers Support Group (IWSG) post, a blog hop created by Alex J. Cavanaugh.

Honestly, during the summer I've been lazy when it has come to my blog. I managed to get a few writing project done... a third edit of a short story, some more of my novel, submitted a children's book to a publisher (yada yada yada). But when it get's so hot outside, I really find it hard to concentrate, set goals and get the work done. Any limited reserves of energy I've had this summer has mainly gone to taking care of my kids and making sure they had fun.

Not getting as much writing done as I'd like to has made me insecure however, especially since individuals I know in my writers group (or know of from word of mouth) are getting published. I'm so excited for them, but at the same time I'm like, holy crap. At the rate I'm going editing my novel, and writing new stuff, it'll be ten years before I have anything good enough to submit.

Now that it's September, and my son starts school for the first time next week, I'm beginning to think I need to set achievable goals in terms of writing (one of them being to keep up with this blog, because I like blogging and networking with others). I just hope I can stick to the goals I set.

You know, I used to pride myself on being a 'disciplined' person, not only in terms of writing. I don't really know what happened. I set a goal to write, I get tired and would rather rest instead. I go on a diet, I can't resist a chocolate or a glass of wine. I say I'm going to exercise and I do sometimes, but then the rest of the time it's like, hahahahaha...

I just feel like I'm completely all over the place, or maybe that's just my lifestyle now with young children, a part time job, and a lot of other responsibilities. I want to be a great mom, a great employee and a great writer (oh, a great wife too I guess ;) I'm being pulled in so many directions that it's tough to master any one of these, yet they're all so important to me.

Guess all I can do is try my best and maybe focus on my accomplishments instead of on my shortcomings.

Insecure Writers Support Group- Not a Profound Month

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This month I've struggled to think what my writing insecurity is... it's not that I don't have one. Believe me! I guess there's just so much on my mind right now with work and the house and the kids (oh, and that little thing called editing a novel), that I haven't really had the time to ruminate about my writing insecurities (maybe that's a good thing)?

I guess the only real insecurity that's been picking at me is the fact that I would like to write and complete more short stories... I just don't feel I'm sending out enough of my work. This novel editing is taking up the majority of my writing time (which isn't much to begin with), so other projects have been neglected.

When I hear that some people have written something like 40 (+) published short stories, firstly I think, WOW, good for them!! And secondly I think, okay, how did they do that? Honestly, for me to get out one good short story, there are usually several drafts involved, so to think about writing 40 of these--oh boy!!

Anyhow, that's my shpeel for this month. Maybe in September I'll have a writing insecurity that is more profound...lol.

Words can be very powerful ...

Thought I'd share this photo with my fellow bloggers. Words are very powerful, and as writers, we have the ability to use our words in powerful ways. Just by putting pen to paper (or typing), we have the power to use the written word as a tool for good, whether that be by entertaining others, encouraging others, or challenging others to see different aspects of life. Never forget what a gift you have by being a writer!

Insecure Writers Support Group: Does anyone have any extra energy to donate?

It's the first Wednesday of July ... time for another Insecure Writer's Support Group (IWSG) post. The IWSG was started by Alex J. Cavanaugh, and it's a great forum to reflect on your writing journey as well as network and support other writers who may have similar insecurities like you.

So what is my insecurity this month? My lack of energy! As I write this, I have a mini-bottle of "5-hour Energy" staring me in the face. Maybe I should take some, but I'm afraid things like that are addictive and not all that good for me.

Okay, so maybe I'm being a bit hard on myself, after all, I am raising two very young children, I have a part-time job, I still have a household to run, and a social life is always nice, (not to mention spending some time with my husband), but I feel like my writing is taking a backseat. It's not like I don't write. I'm in the process of editing a novel and I do take part in a writing group, but I feel like I could be doing more.

I read an article the other day that gave 8 tips for writing when you have young kids. One tip was taking advantage of nap/rest times. When the kids nap in the afternoon, I should write then. Good advice, and I have been trying to do this for years, but most times I'm so tired myself that I end up staring at my computer and taking a nap anyway. Another tip was using Playtime as a work time. When the kids play, I write. I've tried this too, and though my energy is higher at these times, I find it extremely challenging to write anything of any real value, since my 3-year-old is constantly talking to me, and my 1-year-old is into everything. Plus, I can't help feeling a little guilty for ignoring them.

So, how about bedtime? Um ... sometimes I have a bit more energy to write then, but mainly I'm a write-off. So last night I thought I'd be clever and set my alarm for 5am so I could get two hours of writing in before the kids woke up. A person in my writing group does this and I admire his energy.

My alarm clock went off at 5am this morning ... hahahahahahaha ... I hit Snooze, then Snooze again, then Snooze again, until it was like, "To hell with this! Waking up this early is unnatural."

So here I am now, posting this blog. I guess that counts for some writing today. Hmmmm ... maybe I should take some of that "5-hour Energy" to see if I can get some writing done during the kids' nap time today.

Does anyone have any tips to boost your energy?

"Gerund-ing"

It's Wednesday! I almost forgot to post today to be honest ... took the kids out to the playground this morning, did the lunch routine, and I've been working on my novel for the past few hours and then it hit me, "Oh crap! Blog!" In addition, at the playground today my friend mentioned the 'Pinterest' web site and signing up for that site as well, and all I could think was, I'm already on Facebook and Blogger and to think of joining something else right now would just be a bit too much.

Anyway, I'm really challenging myself to do weekly posts on this blog simply because I like the blogosphere and the networking vibe. So far, I've visited a number of blogs (and plan to visit more) and I've been fascintated by all of the different writers out there. It's a great little community!

So enough with my 'diary' and let's get onto 'Gerund-ing.' Well, really, the word is 'Gerund.' I read an article by Susan Sundwall in the latest edition of the Children's Writer newsletter about gerunds, and I'm always interested in finding out the exact terminology for the word-tools we use as writers.

According to Sundwall, gerunds "are words ending in ing and express action or a state of being." For example, golfing, fishing, barbecuing (just thought I would throw those verbs in there since it's Father's Day this weekend and all ;)

Also, gerunds are great for economy in terms of tightening your writing (i.e. "He golfed all day while he drank beer" vs. "Drinking beer, he golfed all day.")

So there's your word of the day ... "Gerund," in case you didn't know ;)

Until next Wednesday! Happy Writing!

Insecure Writers: Is it good enough?

Short post today, but seeing as it is the first Wednesday of the month I wanted to make sure I posted something for Insecure Writers.

My writing insecurity today ... I have a writers group tonight (I always look forward to going to these!) and I've submitted the second draft of chapters 1 & 2 of my novel. I think it's a lot better than my first draft, but I never know what my writing group is going to think.

Many times they point out things I've missed--which is why I attend a writers group--but sometimes when I think my work is really good, it surprised me when it hasn't resonated with others. This makes me insecure because how do you know when your work is actually good, and good enough to send out to an agent and/or publisher? I suppose there is no black and white answer for this.

So off to writers group I go tonight for some great discussion, and socialization with people who share my same interest. It will be good night no matter what, even if my work is not good enough.

Writing Therapy: The Word "Can't"

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Can't - is unable to; does not have the ability to; is forbidden to; is not permitted to

I don't like the word "can't" when it comes to a lot of things, particularly writing. The word "can't" limits, it hinders, and boxes in an individual's expression. In terms of writing therapy, "can't" can hold a writer back because they may be so focused on what they can't do according to the subjective opinions of others, and could potentially lose confidence in their writing ability.

Do you get where I'm going here?

I've read some books by "real writers" or "experts" in the writing industry, and while I appreciate the advice and understand a lot of it comes from their own personal experience, I still have an issue with an 'expert' telling me that I can't (i.e. "You can't write backstory in the first chapter," "You can't switch point of views in the middle of a chapter," "You can't write in the passive voice," etc). 

While I believe it is wise to heed advice from experienced writers in order to grow in the writing craft, I think it is also wise to carefully pick and choose the advice that works for you as a writer. To take the word "can't" too literally could have you second-guessing everything you write. 

For example, I remember taking a writing class where the Professor said "You can't write in the passive voice." I took this literally, and for years after that class I really believe that this piece of 'advice' stunted my growth as a writer. Suddenly, my work felt stilted, like I wasn't expressing what I really wanted to say, including my tone and voice. Have you ever experienced this?

When I finally broke free of the "can't," I found my writing expression was more organic, and I enjoyed writing a heck of a lot more. My philosophy is that there is no right or wrong when it comes to writing like there is in math for example. The only real question is, does your writing resonate with your intended readership? If it doesn't, then edit it! 

Maybe I'm all wrong about this, after all, I'm not an "expert," just a humble writer who would rather remove writing barriers like "can't," in order to open up a world of possibilities and encourage fellow writers to express themselves authentically.